rooted and rising
Mujeres de Maiz receives over half million dollar grant from the Mellon Foundation
Over the last 27 years, Mujeres de Maiz has been a primarily volunteer run organization.
With this support from the Mellon Foundation Mujeres de Maiz is able to launch “Rooted and Rising: Cultivating a Movement Milpa,” a three year project which will center on building solid organizational infrastructure, responding to demographic needs, and systematizing programming including our first staff positions in our almost three decade herstory!
ABOUT THE MELLON FOUNDATION
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is the nation’s largest supporter of the arts and humanities.
Since 1969, the Foundation has been guided by its core belief that the humanities and arts are essential to human understanding. The Foundation believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity and that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom that can be found there.
MEET OUR NEW PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Mónica Hurtado Torres
Mónica Hurtado Torres is a Queer Xicana Indígena based out of East Los Angeles. Her lived experiences along with her unwavering commitment to both her personal and community healing justice work have been catalysts for transformative change and ignited paradigm shifting movements. She is an artist, healing practitioner, cultural worker and visionary leader.
Mónica holds a Bachelor’s in Chicana(o) Studies and Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles. She currently serves as the Program Coordinator for Mujeres de Maiz where she has been a part of and led efforts centered on holistic wellness, cultural preservation, and community empowerment rooted in ancestral practices and artistic expression. Learn more about her here.
Mellon funding supported consultations with community members and key stakeholders to shape the future of Mujeres de Maiz.
We are coming off the heels of celebrating 27 years of Mujeres de Maiz, a new book, and almost three decades of art, activism and advocacy, spirit, sistarhood, and solidarity with a focus on culture, consciousness, and community. We have continued our predecessor’s vision and work and are now looking to how we can shape our future. We are at a critical point as an organization, looking inward and concentrating on building solid organizational infrastructure, responding to community needs, and aligning our programming. So many have been part of Mujeres de Maiz from artists to poets, performers, facilitators, organizers, audiences, volunteers, femntors, and so much more.
Couldn’t make it to one of our listening circles? Complete our survey. Your voice matters!
We want to hear from you… our community! Whether you are a long-time supporter or new to the organization, been to many events or just one — your insights will help shape the future of Mujeres de Maiz, ensuring that we continue to uplift the community through art, culture, wellness, and activism.
